A comparison between parent and teacher ratings of 109 school children on the French version of the Nisonger Child Behavior Rating Form, which measures social competence and problem behaviors of children with developmental disabilities, was conducted. Ratings differed significantly on three problem behavior subscales: conduct problem,…

This commentary discusses whether the American Association on Mental Retardation should change its name. It argues that the term "mental retardation" should become an historical artifact of the evolution of our thinking about children and adults with developmental disabilities. The plurality of the term "developmental…

A review of articles on self-determination and self-advocacy published between 1992 and 1999 found that, with systematic instruction, students with a wide range of disabilities can acquire self-determination skills. Researchers have documented changes for students with learning disabilities, mental retardation, emotional disabilities, and…

The Child Development Centre in Whitehorse, Yukon, delivers comprehensive early intervention services to young children who experience a developmental delay or are considered at risk. Center services include community-based early intervention, a reverse-integrated preschool program, outreach services for rural and First Nations families, and a…

The author discusses how nonverbal actions in young children are powerful communicators of experience, both past and present, and proposes new ways to observe, analyze, and reflect about these silent signals. The article describes the author's Ways of Seeing program, which uses principles of dance movement psychotherapy, the discipline of…

The developmental speech problems and the speech problems derived from bilingualism could have some similar characteristics but they need different intervention. So, distinguishing between them is essential. The present, multi-method (methodological triangulation), case study aimed to investigate whether it is possible to identify developmental…

Many clients in Hong Kong with developmental disabilities stay in mental hospitals because of mental disorders and behavioural problems. There is a need to identify strategies that promote psychological well-being and reduce problem behaviours in this group of clients. This study evaluates the impact of multisensory therapy on participants'…

An increase in interest in crimes against people with developmental disabilities (PWDD) has been observed in the past decade. However, little attention has been given to intrafamilial homicides of PWDD. This paper provides a preliminary description of these types of homicides as they affect PWDD. Content analysis of media accounts of intrafamilial…

Williams syndrome (WS) is often cited as the prime example within developmental disorders of the dissociation of language from other cognitive skills, particularly from visuo-motor skills. This claim has been responsible for the challenges posed by this population to cognitive theories and to models of language acquisition. Two Hebrew-speaking…

Emerging research suggests that exposure to environmental pollutants, prenatally and in early childhood, may contribute significantly to diseases and disabilities. For example, exposures to mercury or lead early in life can impact the nervous system and brain, potentially contributing to learning, behavioral, and developmental disabilities. The…

Objective: The purpose of this research project was to examine the relationship between parenting stress and a child's ability to functionally communicate within families who participated in an early intervention developmental disability program. Method: Using a two-group, cross-sectional survey design, this study explored the above relationship…

Interaction styles of special education teachers were investigated using semi-structured observation of 13 student-teacher pairs during one-on-one language arts instruction of elementary students with cognitive disabilities. Teacher use of directions and responses of differing communication modes and types were analyzed. Student task-engagement…

This study investigated effects of an audiotape self evaluation intervention on the instructional behavior of three student teacher interns in classrooms for students with various developmental disabilities. A multiple baseline design was used to evaluate the intervention. Results indicated a positive effect on all interns' use of specific social…

In this paper, we utilise an approach drawn from the field of epidemiology to explore what is known and unknown about young children with Down syndrome and their families. After describing what we mean by an epidemiological approach, we review basic findings for children with intellectual disabilities, as well as challenges to performing such…

Purpose: While state policy and market factors are known to have contributed to the increased supply of residential care, little is known about efforts to accommodate demand from lower-income consumers. This study describes participation and expenditure trends for residential care services funded by Medicaid waivers and examines variation across…